Dampening mechanism control means for rotary offset printing presses



March 16, 1954 ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING PRESSES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 29, 1949 [43/25071- z [gzwardffid 5m March 16, 1954 E. F. DELL 2,672,090

DAMPENING MECHANISM CONTROL MEANS FOR ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING PRESSES Filed April 29, 1949 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q6 @Q R N @izfih [war-d1? 15y M; 644354,

March 16, 1954 2,672,090

E. F. DELL DAMPENING MECHANISM CONTROL MEANS FOR 'ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING PRESSES Filed April 29, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 March 16, 1954 E. F. DELL DAMPENING MECHANISM CONTROL MEANS FOR ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING PRESSES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 29, 1949 A nil O c: a Q 1... B w/ mm m mm v 1 3 QN mm mww wr mn mq u- 4 a w M wwfifi fiw wfi O- Q e M Patented Mar. 16, 1954 DAMPENING MECHANISM CONTROL MEANS FOR ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING PRESSES Edward FL Dell, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Davidson Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Application April 29, 1949, Serial No. 90,509

11 Claims. (01. 101-448) My present invention relates to improvements in printing presses and more particularly to offset printing presses embodying new and improved dampening fountain means.

In the art of offset printing, a lithographic plate is first required to be dampened and then inked after which the ink image of the plate is transferred to a blanket, which, in turn, provides for the transfer of the ink image to a sheet to be printed. These lithographic plates may vary considerably in the amount of context thereon which reflects itself in the required amount of dampening solution which need be applied to the plate to effect the satisfactory printing of sheets by the offset process.

It is an object of my invention to provide a dampening fountain of simple and economic construction embodying means whereby the application of dampening solution to a lithographic plate may be conveniently and easily regulated and adjusted to meet the requirements for the satisfactory re-production of printed sheets.

with the principles'of my present invention, I

shall describe in connection with the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a printa ing press embodying my present invention, and in which the near side wall of the press is broken away to: illustrate more clearly, in side elevation, the dampening fountain means of my invention.

Figured with certain parts shown in section, illustrating primarily the arrangement of the dampening fountain means of my invention with the press of Figure l with the view being taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the dampening fountain means of my invention;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the dampening fountain of my invention applied to the press shown in Figure 1, but showing the printing cylinder in a position for effecting engagement of the dampening or water form roll with thedampeni'ng. or. water fountain roll;--

is a view largely in front elevation but Figure 5 is a plan view of. the sheet ejector means of my invention which, as previously noted, is shown in side elevation Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a detail side elevational view showing the sheet ejector means and with the print.- ing cylinder in position at which a sheet is being stripped therefrom;

Figure '7 is a partial sectional view illustrating in side elevation a sheet gripper means having means for raising the leading edge portion of a printed sheet in the stripping of the sheet from the printing cylinder; and

Figure 8 is a plan view of a portion of the sheet gripper means of Figure '7.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, I have shown a printing press having an upper main frame comprising a pair of spaced side walls 1 and 8 supported on a suitable base structure 9 of which only a portion is illustrated in these drawings.

The press shown in the drawings is of a construction more fully disclosed in the copending application of William Ward Davidson, Serial No. 68,458, filed December 31, 1948. The press includes a plate and platen cylinder 10 of known construction. The cylinder I0 is mounted between the side walls 1 and 8 on a shaft [2 which extends between and is supported at its opposite ends for rotation in suitable bearings carried by the side walls.

The plate and platen cylinder to as is known, comprises a plate segment l4 and a platen segment I5, each of a circumferential extent of slightly less than half of the circumferential extent of the whole cylinder with the plate segment it, as is known, providing for the support thereon of a lithographic plate, or the like.

A blanket cylinder i6 is disposed substantially immediately above the plate and platen cylinder H3 and it is carried by a shaft H which extends between the side walls 1 and 8 and is suitably journalled at its opposite ends therein. The blanket cylinder l6 carries a transfer blanket [B of rubber or the like.

The plate and platen cylinder 10 and the blanket cylinder 6, per se are well known in the art, and it is believed that a further detailed description of these cylinders is not essential for an understanding of my present invention. The constructions of these two cylinders may vary widely and the only essential requirement is that such cylinders be of a character to. provide a printing couple for printing a sheet. The plate and platen cylinder in is of twice the diameter of the blanket cylinder it so that for each complete revolution of the plate and platen cylinder [0, the blanket cylinder is rotated twice The platen segment of cylinder Ill, and the blanket l8 of the blanket cylinder i5 form a printing couple in a known manner. In the rotation of the plate and platen cylinder it in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 1, the plate carried by the plate segmnt is adapted to be dampened by the dampening means of my present invention, shown generally at 20, and then inked by a suitable inking means indicated generally at 22. Upon rotation of the printing plate with the blanket I8 of the blanket cylinder, the ink image of the plate is transferred to the blanket i8 carried by the blanket cylinder l6. Upon feeding of a sheet between the printing couple formed by the blanket it! of the blanket cylinder and the impression or platen surface of the platen segment 15, the ink image on the blanket is transferred to the sheet. Thus, for each full revolution of the plate and platen cylinder I 0 and two full revolutions of the blanket cylinder Hi, the lithographic plate carried by the plate segment is caused to be dampened and inked for transferring an ink image to the blanket l8 of the blanket cylinder I6, and the ink image transferred from the lithographic plate to the blanket 18 of the blanket cylinder 56 is transferred by the latter to a sheet fed between the printing couple formed by the blanket I8 and the platen segment l5.

It will be understood that a suitable form of drive means is provided for rotating the printing cylinder and such drive means may be embodied in the base structure 9. The drive means may include a drive gear 23 carried on a drive shaft 24 and which drive gear 23 has meshing engagement with a gear 25 carried on a shaft 26 mounted on its opposite ends in the side walls 7 and 8.

The gear 23 has meshing engagement with an end gear (not shown) on the plate and platen cylinder [0 in a known manner and the plate and platen cylinder H3, in turn, is geared in a conventional way to th blanket cylinder It so that the drive means effects rotation of the cylinders of the press. The arrangement of the drive means is such that the plate and platen cylinder in and the blanket cylinder i5 are caused to be continuously rotated.

In the press in which may present invention has embodied, the plate and platen cylinder lil carries sheet gripping means as indicated generally at 30 and shown in greater detail in Figures 7 and 8. The sheet gripping means 30 is mounted across the leading edge of the platen segment !5 and comprises a shaft 32 carrying a plurality of movable gripping fingers 33, one of which is shown in Figures 7 and 8. These gripping fingers are adapted to clamp the leading edge of a sheet to a grip bar 34 secured to the platen segment. A suitable coil spring 35 is provided for each gripping finger 33. Th spring member 35, as shown, is formed with coiled end portions, with the free ends thereof being anchored in the grip bar 34 and in which the coiled ends are connected by a U-shaped portion 33 adapted to extend transversely of the grip finger closely adjacent and in engagement with the free end thereof to bias normally the grip finger to closed position with respect to the grip bar 34-. The shaft 32, as shown in Figure l, at one end thereof carries a crank arm 3! to the outer end of which a cam follower 38 is rotatably mounted. A stationary cam 39 is mounted inwardly of a side wall of the upper frame of the press in a conventional manner and in the path of movement of the follower 38 so that as the follower 38 rides upwardly on the cam 33, each of the gripping fingers 33 are caused to be moved away from the grip bar 34 against the force of the springs 35 in proper timed sequence in the operation of the press to receive a sheet fed thereto as from a hand feed board indicated generally at 40. If desired, suitable power drive feed roll means may be provided for efl'ecting the delivery of the sheets to the open gripper means in lieu of the hand feed board 43 as shown in the drawing. A suitable feed mechanism for such purpose is disclosed in the aforementioned copending application of William Ward Davidson.

Referring again to Figures '7 and 8, it will be observed that a thin sheet metal ejector finger 42 is secured to the gripper finger 33 for movement therewith. Preferably an ejector finger is provided for each gripping finger 33. The ejector finger 42 is formed with a body portion 43, substantially U-shape in cross section, which fits over the top and the sides of the gripping finger 33, and further includes arms 44, the free ends of which are adapted to be engaged with the under surface of a sheet on the platen segment in stripping of the sheet from the platen segment. A gripper opening cam 45 is suitably mounted to a side wall of the press to lie in the path of the follower 38 at the rear of the press with th cam 45 serving, upon engagement of the follower 38 therewith, to rock the shaft 32 to position the gripper finger 33 and the ejector finger 44 to the position shown in Figure 7. A stripper blade member 49 extends transversely between the side walls I and 8 of the press and is disposed relative to the cam 45 so that upon raising of the ejector fingers 42 to the position shown in Figure 7, the sheet is positioned with the leading edge portion thereof in position above the surface of the blade 49 to effect stripping of the sheet from the platen segment of the plate and platen cylinder Ill. The cam 39, previously referred to, for opening the gripper means 39- to receive a sheet, has the cam opening surface thereof with which the follower 38 is adapted to engage arranged so that the free ends of arms 34 of the ejector fingers 42 do not project beyond the periphery of the platen segment so that in opening of the gripper means to receive a sheet, the ejector fingers do not interfere with free movement of the sheet into the open gripper means 33. In this instance, however, the gripper fingers 33 are raised sufficiently so as to receive a sheet fed thereto from the hand feed board 40.

The sheet gripping means above described, is similar in many respects to that shown in Patents Nos. 2,374,668, dated May 1, 1945, and 2,406,205, dated August 20, 1946, both issued to the assignee of the instant application. The sheet gripper means above described, however, is provided additionally with one or more ejector fingers 42, which as described, serve to effect stripping of a sheet from the printing cylinder.

The press above described embodies pressure roll means operable with the aforedescribed ejector fingers 42 and stripper blade 49 and such pressure roll means is indicated generally at 53. The pressure roll means referred to forms the subject matter of my application, Serial No. 157,686, filed April 24, 1950, and which application is a division of my present application. The pressure roll means 50, in the main, provides for effecting pressure engagement of a sheet on the platen segment in effectin stripping of the sheet therefrom with the cooperative operation an e- 9 of theejector ,iilngers and stripper blade 4.9 already described.

The pressure :roll means .50, :as 'best shown in .Eigureso and 6, comprises a frame member @5-2 which is pivotally mounted at its opposite ends by means of pivot studs and 5A mounted .respectively in theside walls 1 and .8 of the frame for the ,press. The pivot studs .53 land 54 proyidefor supporto'f the frame 52 for-piyotalimovement about an axis extending substantially parallel with the axis 'of the plate and platen cylinder 1 0. The frame member 5-2. as shown, is substantially .U-shape as viewed in plan, to provide for .the support between the outer ends of the .legs 56 thereof of a :pressure .-roll shaft indicated generally at 5!. Suitable mounting bolts till are carried .by the leg members 55 of the :main frame 52 and are provided with eccentricall-y disposed lend stud portion =59 which project intoopeni-ngs provided therefor at the opposite ends of the -60. The pressure rolls each com-prise a "circular disc member 62 having a hub portion -63 through which the pressure roll shaft 5'] extends. releasable leaf spring member '64 is secured at one end as by a screw 65 toeac-h of the circular discs 62. The spring it -ember 64! is formed with an elongated opening through which the pressure .roll shaft 57 extends. Normally each leaf spring '64 has the outer or free end portion thereof normally biased in .a direction for clampinga portion of the edge defining the opening therein through which the pressure roll-shaft 5? extends to the latter-so .as to secure the pressure rolls in .an adjusted position axially-on the roll shaft -5'!. By biasing the free ends of the :leaf spring members 64 toward the pressure wheels 62, the latter maybe moved axially along the sha'ftE-rl so as to engage the sheet on the peripheryof the platen segment as desired in effecting the stripping of narrow or wide sheets printed by "the press or for other circumstance where it may be des red .to effect engagement of the pressure [roll means with the sheet at a particular portion thereof.

The frame member .52 adfiacent one end of the bight portion thereof has an angle flange 565 secured thereto .and .to which a follower :carrier member 66 is pivo'tallycon-nected as at 6?". The follower carrier member -56 is formed with 58.11 upwardly extending lug or ear between-which and the opposed tight portion of the frame 5 2 a .coil spring .58 is disposed. The follower carrier 1 66 provides for .r-otatably supporting :a cam follower EB by means of a l2 suitably secured in the carrier hit and retained thereinas by means of asnap ring it.

.The arrangement is .such that :spring as prorides for normally retaining the carrier fframe 66 in .fixed position with respect to the member 52 with the spring serving, however, to yield, permitting pivotal movement of "the follower carrier m'emlzrer with respect of the frame member 52 under certain circmnstances as will be hereinafter related.

Referring again to Figures .1 and 6, it will be observed that a 'coil spring M has connection at one end with one of the lugs 'of the member frame 52 and at its other end it!) "a pin T5 carried by :side wall "Th-aspirin it normally to bias the frame member 552 the follower carrier 65 in :a :clockwise direction about the axis defined by pivot pins 53 and s to urge "the afcllit) of the cylinder.

flower "10 toward the plate and platen .cylincam follower 10 so that as the plate and platen cylinder :rotates, engagement of the cam follower 1 0 with the form roll 'cam 11 .last referred to effects slight counterclockwise movement of the frame member 52 of the pressure roll means about the axis defined by the pivot studs 53 land .54 to engage the pressure rolls 62 with the :sheet on the platen segment in effecting the stripping of the sheet in the manner already above described.

The structure above noted compensates for varying thicknesses of sheets printed (by the press in the following manner. The form -roll nam .H and the cam follower .1 ll may, for example, beadjusted to provide the-desired pressure engagement -of the pressure roll means 62 with a sheet of a given thickness on the platen segment. :For example, this sheet may be of a minimum thickness normally used for printing purposes, say of ;002 inch with the adjustment being made to provide for the proper pressure contact of the pressure roll means 2 with a sheet of that thickness. With the press thus adjusted and upon printing :sheets of greater thickness, the increased thick- .ness of the sheet is compensated for by compression of the coil spring-68 between the frame member 52 and the follower frame carrier rupon engagement of the follower 10 wit-h the form roll cam Tl so that the pressure roll means 62 effect substantially uniform pressure engagement with the sheet on the 'platensegment in the stripping of .such thicker sheets from the platen segment.

Referring now to Figures 1 through 4., it will be observed that the dampening fountain means 2!! of my present invention comprises a tray 8f! arranged to extend transversely between the main side walls 1 and 8 and is supported by a pair of links '82 at each -:of the ends thereof with the links 282 at their lower ends having pivotal connection as at 83 with the tray 86 and at their upper ends having pivotal connection as at 15 to brackets :85 which are secured one adjacent :each the inner surfaces of the side walls 1 "and '8. The links .82 thus provide for limited swinging movement :of the .tray virtually in a substantially horizontal plane between the side walls 1 and '8 of the press.

Thelinks 82 at opposite ends of the tray to .toward the front of the press have nut members '8 pivotally secured thereto :as by rivets l9. Bolts 3] having threaded connection with nuts :85 :are provided with knob members 8.3 at their outer ends and these :knob members are normally held against depending flanges '39 of the brackets by coils-springs no encircling the ib'olts B5! and dis- ,posed between the inner surfaces of the flanges :85 and nuts 82 threaded on the bolts '81. The mu springs to urge the link members iii. having the pivotally mounted nut members 81 thereon in a direction for moving the dampening tray 1310 inwardly of the press with the extent ofsuch inward movement being limited by engagement of the knobs 8 with the flanges :39 of the brackets 85.

The dampening fountain means 2 El further =comprises .a conventional dampening or water fourtainroll ll fill carried by a shaft i112 which is suitably jiournalled :at :its outer end in the end of the-tray :88. As best shown Figures '2 and 3, the :end walls for of the "tray are formedwith integral lugs I06 to which leaf spring members I! are secured at one end as by screws I08. The opposite ends of the leaf springs I0! carry brake members H0 in position for engaging the fountain roll shaft I02 at the portions thereof between the opposite ends of the fountain roll I00 and the inner journal portions of the tray 80 for the opposite ends of the shaft I02. The leaf spring members IOI bias the brake members IIO into an engagement with the shaft I02 to restrain free rotation of the water fountain roll I00.

The dampening fountain means 20 further comprises a dampening or water form roll II5 provided with a fabric covering for retaining the dampening solution. The water form roll H5 is carried by a shaft I I1, the opposite ends of which are journalled in a pair of mounting members I I8 disposed inwardly of side walls I and 8 of the press and pivotally mounted thereon as indicated at H3. The mounting members H8 are each formed with a yoke shaped portion I for receiving the ends of the shaft I I I and substantially C-shaped retaining members I22 are provided for retaining the opposite ends of the shaft I I! within the yoke-shaped portions I I8. Coil springs I23 have connection with the C-shaped retaining members I22 and at their other ends to pins I25 secured to the side walls of the press to retain the water form roll in position in the mounting members H8.

The members II8 each, further, are formed with an offset flange member I carrying a set screw I32 which is adapted to engage a shaft I34 extending transversely of the press between the side walls I and 8 thereof so as to limit the ex-- tent to which the coil springs I23 are adapted to dispose the water form roll II5 inwardly toward the plate and platen cylinder I0. The shaft I34 is provided with a flat I35 which the inner ends of the set screws I32 engage to define the operative position of the water form roll I I5. The shaft I34 is rotatable and upon engagement of the circular peripheral surface portion thereof with the ends of the set screws I32, the water form roll I I5 is moved to an inoperative position.

As best illustrated in Figure 2, the shaft II! is provided with a pair of water form roll cam followers I in alignment with the form roll cams II at the opposite ends of the platen segment I5 so that in movement of the platen segment past the water form roll II5, the latter is disposed to a position out of engagement with the surface of the platen segment. Immediately inwardly of the water form roll cam followers I40, fountain cam followers I42 are provided and these followers are in alignment with a dampening fountain cam I45 secured as by the screws I 46 in juxtaposition inwardly of and intermediate the ends of form roll cams II. Thus, in the rotation of the plate and platen cylinder I0 the dampening fountain cams I45 are adapted to engage the water fountain cam followers I42 to effect movement of the water form roll H5 in a direction to engage it with the water fountain roll I00 mounted in the dampening tray 80. The dampening fountain cams I45, as best shown in Figure 4, are provided with a raised central portion I50 which, when engaged with the water fountain cam followers I42, effect the aforedescribed operation. Upon engagement of the water form roll II5 with the fountain roll I00 the tray 80 is moved outwardly of the press against the force of the coil springs 90, and after the dampening fountain cam I45 has travelled beyond the water fountain cam followers I42 the springs 90 are effective for returning the tray to its initial position.

By virtue of the above described construction, the tray of the dampening fountain means may be disposed in a selected position relative to the form roll II5 so as to provide for a selective period of engagement of the water form roll II5 with the fountain roll I00. If, in a printing operation being carried out with the press, only a limited amount of dampening solution is desired for the lithographic plate carried by the plate segment, the tray 80 may be positioned so that when the water form roll H5 is caused by the dampening fountain cams I45 to move toward the fountain roll I00, only slight limited peripheral engagement is provided therebetween so that the water form roll II5 picks up only a limited amount of dampening solution from the fountain roll I00. Conversely, if substantial dampening solution is required, the tray 60 may be positioned further inwardly of the press so that it is retained in peripheral engagement with the form roll I I5 for a greater length of time, thus providing for the transfer of a larger amount of dampening solution to the water form roll I I5 and in turn to the plate carried by the plate segment.

By virtue of the aforedescribed construction, the dampening fountain 80 may be positioned relative to the water form roll II5 so as to provide for the desired amount of peripheral engagement of the water form roll II5 with the water fountain roll I00.

The ink fountain means, indicated generally at 22, comprises a main or ink distributor roll I50 carried by a shaft I 52 which is journalled at its opposite ends in suitable bearings carried by the side walls I and 8. A pair of brackets I53 are disposed adjacent the inside surfaces of the side walls I and 8 and are formed with yoke portion I54 at the upper ends thereof which support the ends of a shaft I56 which carries an ink form roll I58. The shaft I56 is retained in position in the yoke ends I54 of the brackets I53 by a substantially C-shaped retaining member I60. A coil spring I62 is connected to one end of each of the clamp members I60 and is anchored at its other end as I63 to a side wall of the press. The springs I62 normally draw the retaining clamps I60 inwardly to retain the shaft I56 in the yoke ends of the brackets I53. The brackets I53 are further formed with ofiset flanges I60 in which adjustable set screws I62 are mounted, and which set screws are adapted to engage the shaft I63 extending between the side walls I and 8. The set screws, by engagement with the shaft I63, define reaction points for the springs I62 for effecting pressure engagement of the ink form roll with the printing plate on the plate segment of the plate and platen cylinder I0. The shaft I63 is provided with a flat which the inner ends of the set screws engage in the operative position of the inking means 22, and upon rotation of the shaft II5 to engage the cylindrical surface thereof with the ends of the set screws. The ink form roll is disposed to its inoperative position when that is desired in the operation of the press. The supply roll I50 of the inking means 22 is provided with a gear indicated generally at I10, which meshes with a drive pinion I I2. The drive pinion H5 in turn is adapted to be driven by the aforementioned gear at the end of the plate and platen cylinder. In the form of the ink means shown in the drawings, the ink distributor roll does not operate in a. fountain but? rathe ink is applied thereto manually as by means o a. col psi le tu e o other ar li atol. 'int de re amount. f r e ieoting inking of the li h gr phic plate carried; by the plate se ment. I The. form. roll [58' further embodies ink form, roll cams I15 which are adapted to engage the form roll cams. Tiatthe. ends of the platen so as to aise the ink form. rolls off of the platen, segment as itv passes; the inking apparatus 222.. As. shown, the form. roll is also. provided with an end. drive; gear [18 which is, adapted to: have meshing engagement. with the gear H0. of thefounta-in roll [50. soas to, eifect. rotation. of the ink. form roli in the application of. ink. to they plate on the plate segment.v

While I have. shown and, described what it consider to bev eertain preferred embodiment of my invention, it. will bev understood that; various modifications and rearrangements be made therein without departing, from the spirit. and 20 scope: of my invention.

I, claim:

1. means for an o -set printing press of. a. character having a rotatable printing cylinder and in which the cylinder carries form 2 roll; earn means comprising, form roll means biasedtoward said cylinder and adapted to be by said roll means to be dis posed a; position, out of, engagement with said cylinder, dampening fountain means inelud- :20

foi-mtainroll means, mounting means for mounting said. dampening fountain means for movement. toward and away from said roll eoiripr-ising, stop means forlimiting'mova v merit of said dampening fountain tor-wards said form roll means, means for urging said; fountain means against. said stop; means, and second; cam means; adapted to; be carried. said cylinder for moving s H1 l o. a p i en in eng ement with said L in roll means.

2 Desiree-ins m ans. for: an offset printin of a character having a. rotatable printin cylinder and; in Whieh the oylind r011 m m ans: compri in form roll me ns: 5 biased toward said cylinder and adapted to be engaged by Said for-m roll cam means to be disposed in a position out of an engagement with said. cyl'm der, dampening fountain. means; including fountain roll means, mounting means for mounting said dampening fountain means for movement toward and away from said form roll means comprising, step means for limiting movement of dampening fountain means toward said for-m roll means, spring means for urging said dampening fountain means against said stop means, second cam means adapted to be carried by said cylinder for moving said form roll means to a position in engagement with said fountain roll means, and means for said stop means for adjusting the position of said dampening foil-n tainmeans with respect to said form roll means.

3. Dampening means for an offset printing press of a character having a printing cylinder mounted in a main frame and including plate and platen segments, and in which the platen segment carries form roll cam means comprising, form roll means, spring means for biasing said form roll means in a direction to engage the same with said cylinder, follower means for said form roll means engageable with said form roll cam means for moving said form roll means away from said platen segment against said spring means, a dampening fountain, mounting means including bracket means adapted to be secured to said, main framev of said, press and. link means betwe n s id brac et m s. n ai fo ntain for. supporting the latter for swinging, movement toward and away from said form roll means, stop meansbetwe n said bracket means and said.- means for limiting, movement. said dampening fountain toward said form roll means, spring means yieldingly resisting; movement of said dampening fountain in. a. directionaway from said form roll means, a fountain roll rotatably mounted. in saidfountain, and second cam means adapted to beoarried by said platen segmentand engageable. with said follower means for engag ing, said formroll means with said fountain roll and moving said dampening fountain; away from said stop, means against the force.- of saidspring means. whereby said form roll means is adapted to, hare engagement with said fountain roll.

a The dampening iountain means of claim, 3 characterized by the provision of an adjustment sore r for the: stop means. for adjusting the. position of, the dampening fountain relative to the form. roll means, to. provide, for adjustment ofv the extent, of, peripheral contact of the. form roll means with, the fountain roll.

5.. Dampening means for an offset printing press of a characterhaving a printing cylinder mounted in a. main frame and including plate and platen segments, and in which, the platen segment carries form roll cam means: comprising, form r ll m ans, sprin means. for biasin s id form roll means, in a directionto engage the same with said cylinder, follower means. for said form roll means engageable with said. form roll cam meansfor moving, said form. roll means away from said platen segmentv against said spring means, a dampening fountain, mountingrneans including bracket means, adapted to; be secured to, said main frame of said press andlirik means between said bracket. means; and saidfountain for sup;- porting the latter for swinging movement toward away from said form r ll m an t p means between said bracket means and said link means for limitin moyement of said dampenin muntaini toward saidform roll. means, spring means yieldingly resi ting move e f aid: a pe in fountain in a, direction away from said form,- roll means-ya fo n ainroll t b y mo nted said f un ain, nd eoond cam m ns adapted t e arried by said platen; se ment nd e s able with said follower means for engaging said form r ll m an w h. s id fountain roll and mo ng said dampening fountain away from said step means again-st, the force of said spring means, whereby said form- I'Q-ll means is adapted to have. engagement with: said fountain. roll, and brake means carried by said dampening fountain and engageable with the fountain. roll for restraining rotation, of the latter.

Dampenin means for fs t pr ntin pres of a harac r ha n ri tin or und r mounted amainframe and inclu n p at and platen segments, and which the platen sees ment carries form roll cam means comprising, form roll means, spring means for biasing said form roll means in a direction to engage the same with said cylinder, follower means for said form roll means engageable with said form roll cam means for moving said form r011 means away from said platen segment against said spring means, a dampening fountain, mounting means including bracket means adapted to be secured to said main frame of said press and link means between said bracket means and said fountain for supporting the latter for swinging movement toward and away from said form roll means, stop means between said bracket means and said link means for limiting movement of said dampening fountain toward said form roll means, spring means yieldingly resisting movement of said dampening fountain in a direction away from said form roll means, a fountain roll rotatably mounted in said fountain, and second cam means adapted to be carried by said platen segment and engageable with said follower means for engaging said form roll means with said fountain roll and moving said dampening fountain away from said stop means against the force of said spring means, whereby said form roll means is adapted to have engagement with said fountain roll, said stop means including adjustment screw means for adjusting the position of the dampening fountain relative to the form roll means to provide for adjustment of the extent of peripheral contact of the form roll means with the fountain roll, and brake means carried by said dampening fountain and engageable with the fountain roll for restraining rotation of the latter.

7. In a fountain means for an offset printing press having a rotatable printing cylinder and form roll cam means carried at a portion thereof,

the combination of form roll means including a pair of cam follower means biased toward said cylinder, one of said cam follower means being adapted to be engaged by said form roll cam means to dispose said form roll means out of engagement with said cylinder, a fountain including rotatable fountain roll means, and means carried by said cylinder in juxtaposition of a portion of said form roll cam means for engaging the second of said cam follower means of said form roll means to move the latter into engagement with said fountain roll means.

8. In a fountain means for an offset printing press having a rotatable printing cylinder and form roll cam means carried at a portion thereof, the combination of form roll means including a pair of cam follower means biased toward said cylinder, one of said cam follower means being adapted to be engaged by said form roll cam means to dispose said form roll means out of engagement with said cylinder, a fountain including rotatable fountain roll means, and means carried by said cylinder in juxtaposition of a portion of said form roll cam means for engaging the second of said cam follower means of said form roll means to move the latter into engagement with said fountain roll means, and means for adjusting the position of said fountain toward and away fromsaid form roll means.

9. In a fountain means for an offset printing Y press having a rotatable printing cylinder and form roll cam means carried at a portion thereof, the combination of form roll means including a pair of cam follower means biased toward said cylinder, one of said cam follower means being adapted to be engaged by said form roll cam means to dispose said form roll means out of engagement with said cylinder, a fountain including rotatable fountain means, means carried by said cylinder in juxtaposition of a portion of said form roll cam means for engaging the second of said cam follower means of said form roll means to move the latter into engagement with said fountain roll means, and brake means for said fountain roll means for restraining the latter against rotation.

10. In a fountain means for an offset printing press having a rotatable printing cylinder and form roll cam means carried at a portion thereof, the combination of form roll means including a pair of cam follower means biased toward said cylinder, one of said cam follower means being adapted to be engaged by said form roll cam means to dispose said form roll means out of engagement with said cylinder, a fountain including rotatable fountain roll means, means carried by said cylinder in juxtaposition of a portion of said form roll cam means for engaging the second of said cam follower means of said form r011 means to move the latter into engagement with said fountain roll means, means for adjusting the position of said fountain toward and away from said form roll means, and brake means for said fountain roll means for restraining the latter against rotation.

11. Dampening means for an offset printing press of a character having a rotatable printing cylinder and in which the latter is provided with form roll cam means comprising, dampening fountain means including fountain roll means disposed adjacent said cylinder, said form roll means between said dampening fountain means and said cylinder, said form roll means having a pair of cam followers, means for said form roll means for biasing the same toward said cylinder and away from said dampening fountain, one of said cam follower means of said form roll means being adapted to be engaged by said form roll cam means for moving said form roll means away from said cylinder, and second cam means carried by said cylinder in juxtaposition of a portion of said form roll cam means for engaging the second of said cam follower means for moving said form roll means to a position to engage the same with said fountain roll means.

EDWARD F. DELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 359,513 Millard Mar. 15, 1887 793,022 Pancoast June 20, 1905 1,092,998 Kelly Apr. 14, 1914 1,095,833 Fenner May 5, 1914 1,285,774 Middleditch Nov. 26, 1918 1,428,310 Wood et al. Sept. 5, 1922 1,732,078 Black Oct. 15, 1929 1,745,414 Frederickson Feb. 4, 1930 2,162,248 Delaplane June 13, 1939 2,165,235 Curtiss July 11, 1939 2,345,681 Neal Apr. 4, 1944 

